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2026 Kentucky Derby: Renegade Favored from Historic Post 1

5/1/2026

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Summary

Renegade Opens

The 2026 Kentucky Derby will run Saturday, May 2, at Churchill Downs with a 6:57 p.m. ET post time.
Renegade opens from post 1 as the 4-1 morning-line favorite, a spot without a winner in 40 years.
Analysts Jody Demling and Michelle Yu both favor The Puma at 10-1, noting an unnamed double-digit longshot as value.
TwinSpires and FanDuel Racing each offer bonus bets for Derby wagering, up to $400 and $25 respectively.

Summary

Fulleffort Withdrawn

Fulleffort was withdrawn after x-rays showed a bone chip in his hind ankle, ending his Triple Crown bid.
A Cox Derby hopeful was scratched for the second straight year, leaving Cox with only Commandment and Further Ado at 6-1 odds.
Whit Beckman’s Ocelli was bought for $12,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Yearling Sale and will break from post 20 with jockey Joe Ramos at 50-1 odds.

History

Historical Context

Since its 1875 debut at Churchill Downs—named officially in 1937—the Derby has produced landmark moments, most famously Secretariat’s 1973 record 1:59.4 run that secured the first Triple Crown since 1948. Today, Calumet Farm’s legacy resurfaces as longshot Ocelli, bought for $12,000, posts 50-1 odds, prompting TwinSpires and FanDuel to offer bonus bets.

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Renegade Opens

The 2026 Kentucky Derby will run Saturday, May 2, at Churchill Downs with a 6:57 p.m. ET post time.
Renegade opens from post 1 as the 4-1 morning-line favorite, a spot without a winner in 40 years.
Analysts Jody Demling and Michelle Yu both favor The Puma at 10-1, noting an unnamed double-digit longshot as value.
TwinSpires and FanDuel Racing each offer bonus bets for Derby wagering, up to $400 and $25 respectively.

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